(no subject)

[never_promised]

It's a red-faced Hal who slinks into the bar for breakfast, rather late.

...for none of the usual reasons someone might slink red-faced into a bar, rather late. He's been slaying dragons.

Comments

[livinginmyglass]

Viola happens by sooner or later-- and pauses before she approaches. She almost doesn't. But no, she's no coward, and they said they would be friends. So friends they'll be.

"Good morrow, sir!" she calls.

[never_promised]

"Good morrow Cesario," he calls back heartily.

Good, she's not trying to avoid him. It wouldn't have broken Harry's heart, but--it would have stung.

[livinginmyglass]

"And how do you?" lalala everything is so fine and not weird at all

[never_promised]

"Well enough, well enough!" There is nothing awkward about this conversation. Because he is her brotherly friend. As previously specified. "And thou?"

He's uncomfortably aware of his pink skin and crispy hairline.

[livinginmyglass]

"Why, well, but-- hast thou no strange accident to relate?" she asks with a little smile. "Or didst but fall to napping in the sun?"

[never_promised]

"A bright sun indeed," he answers cheerfully. "So bright it shone deep into a cavern. --Nay, but I have been playing at fairy-story prince..."

No, he's still not sure how he wants to explain it to her. And yes he's been thinking about that.

[livinginmyglass]

She reddens a little, uncertain if he's serious or coming the comparison she made when they last spoke. "Hast thou indeed?"

[never_promised]

don't worry viola he's still redder than you

"Yes..." He grimaces. Better just tell her about it. "I had put up, in jest, a notice: Wanted, one dragon to slay, complete with hoard. Did I know a friend would come by and ask, O! What manner of dragon wouldst slay, I have me some dozen ready to hand?"

[livinginmyglass]

Viola stares at him a moment, then bursts out laughing. "Why, could not I have told thee so? For did I not once venture forth to seek such a beast-- though to serve it, not to slay it?"

[never_promised]

"Yes, but--!"

Viola's laughing, and soon he is too. "Yes, but. --Fear not, 'twas no kind matronly dragon this; she was a great beast in a cavern, a fouler den than I have ever seen."

...Yeah, it's less funny now that he's remembering. "Well, I have played now at Saint George, as every boy does in his day."

[livinginmyglass]

"And wouldst truly say 'tis by some dragon's flaming breath thou wert so reddened?"

[never_promised]

"My hand to my heart." He makes the gesture to match the words. "Wouldst--wouldst have a treasure, as proof and remembrance?"

[livinginmyglass]

She raises her brows. "Why, hast thou such a token?"

[never_promised]

"Should I have it, wouldst accept it from me? --Good mistress Bar, give me that casket I bid thee keep in trust, last night."

And there on the bar is a tidy wooden box, of about a size to hold two or three books. Hal looks at it somewhat uneasily. "Open it, if you like."

[livinginmyglass]

Viola reaches for the box, then hesitates at his unease. She laughs nervously. "Why, it is no-- no boyish trick, no-- no hand, no head?"

[never_promised]

He laughs, only a little less nervously. "Nay--nor no serpent, no frog. No tennis balls, neither. The Dauphin once sent me such treasure as that."

[livinginmyglass]

oooookaaaaay

She slowly eases the lid open.

[never_promised]

IT'S FULL OF BEES





Wait, no. It's full of treasure. Gemstones and gold. Mostly gemstones; he'd picked them as likely worth more than gold, for the space they took up.

"'Tis but a small part of what there was. My share."

[livinginmyglass]

omg no

Her eyes go wide. "O! I-- I have never seen such a store!"

[never_promised]

"There was much more besides," he says, which may not be helpful. "It would not buy a kingdom, nor yet a dukedom, but...a pleasant little manor..."

In, say, Illyria.

[livinginmyglass]

Viola's a little mesmerized by the shininess still.

"And may such a manor be had here?" she asks, a touch distracted.

[never_promised]

"I own my thoughts were in Illyria. On thy place there."

[livinginmyglass]

She looks up at him, startled. "Nay, but--"

Didn't they talk about this? Unless-- "My place?"

[never_promised]

"Ay, that thou art dependent on thy duke's fancies, that thou must perforce cling to him for shelter, and know not how he will take learning that Cesario is not Cesario..."

[livinginmyglass]

"I-- I do not--"

She doesn't know what to say. She was never poor before the shipwreck, but she was a merchants' daughter: wealth unseen, bills and credit. To look upon a box of gold and jewels feels like untold luxury. And that he should give it to her--

oh my god is she going to cry

damn it she's gonna cry

[never_promised]

"'Tis thine, if thou wouldst have it--'tis Cesario's, 'tis Viola's. I have no need, being--" he clears his throat, "being dead. Some living soul should profit by this venture..."

[livinginmyglass]

"Sir--" yeah there it is. She laughs tearfully and ducks her head. "Ah, pardon me-- I am too much the woman to forbear weeping."

[never_promised]

"O, didst thou but see the treasure left behind, then wouldst thou weep, wouldst tear thy hair and thy raiment, wouldst beat me about the head for a fool of a friend..."

She'll take it, though, right?

[livinginmyglass]

She laughs and shakes her head and wipes her eyes. "Nay, I could never-- I could dream of no more. But--" She takes a breath. "You cannot mean it."

[never_promised]

"Mean it? Do but try me! I mean it as I have meant any thing; do thou take thy coffer through the door straight away! Or leave it for Dame Bar to keep safe; I know not where thou may'st best keep such a thing..."

Harry's experience is that money fixes quite a number of problems, but of course there are some technical difficulties. Like showing up with a sudden unexplained fortune.

[livinginmyglass]

"I-- I will keep it here," she says, still half waiting for the trick to be revealed. There's a trick, right?

[never_promised]

If there's a trick, it doesn't seem to be appearing any time soon. Harry just nods briskly, like someone satisfied with the completion of a bit of business. "Now, shouldst thou come to me clamoring for more, I may ask thee to stand squire to me, and come with a stout leathern satchel and a back ready for bearing weight..."

[livinginmyglass]

"Thou know'st I am a very coward, sir!" She leans forward. "But I prithee, I am grown coventous indeed, to marvel at thy spoils and ask not how thou didst win them! Was't a fearful fight?"

[never_promised]

"O, such a coward; a dozen such cowards would keep an army in such spirits as none would dare fight them."

He winces a little at the question, but he's not unwilling to answer. "Fearful enough. The dragon was the size of, oh, three or four cart-horses, and wingèd. She breathed fire but my companions had wond'rous enchantments to protect against the worst of it. --And I fought besides under the banner of Saint George."

There's a lot about the fight that he's still not sure what to think of.

[livinginmyglass]

"Then little wonder thou didst prevail!" she laughs. "But who were thy companions?"

[never_promised]

"The lady Ysalwen, and her husband. And she has a dog besides, a great fine fellow, who ran into the fray as brave as the best war-horse. Dost know Ysalwen?"

[livinginmyglass]

"Methinks I have seen her about the place," says Viola whose mun can't remember if they've met. "And is she a close companion of thine?"

[never_promised]

"I have known her to greet and speak to, since I first came here--well enough to go and fight in her world." Is she a close companion? "I own we know not always what to make of one another."

[livinginmyglass]

She nods. "And yet I think that need be no barrier to friendship."